A down jacket to add to my winter wardrobe ?

[ednotmilkman]

Anybody have a recommendation for a light down jacket that I would use after supper and after rising on the trail this time of year, and as extra sleeping layer?  I just spent an hour looking at what's available at backcountry.com; something under $150 and under 1# - two choices with 800 fill goose down were Marmot Zeus and MontBell Alpine light.  They have lots of feedback on these and their other items, but if I can get similar stuff cheaper elsewhere, let me know. I always look at Campmor, but haven't yet for a jacket. Similar name brand jackets with 600-650 down weigh more like 1 1/2# for the same or slightly less cost on backcountry.

I don't often buy in-state since I don't come to the city much, but would if I could get it shipped.

[Nalgene Ninja]

Eddie Bauer's website has a 700 fill down jacket on sale right now. No idea what it weighs.

[Pointman]

I used this jacket on my AT section hike and was very happy with it. http://www.campmor.com/ou...door/gear/Product___73490

The temperature was 14 degrees when I started and was below that at night and mornings on the trip and I was comfortable with layers under it. I normally wear a large and if I was buying again I would get extra large for a little more room when layering.

[Nalgene Ninja]

The Eddie Bauer jacket is only, $69.99. For that price I could carry afew extra ounces.

http://www.eddiebauer.com...e%3DEB%22%2Ccs%3A%220%22}

[Cuffs]

stick with the montbell!!  or even try the Patagonia down sweater

[Woody]

Check this Marmot out. 14 ounces sounds pretty nice.

http://www.rei.com/product/771737

[auwesman]

How cold natured are you?  I'm with Cuffs on the patagonia down sweater if you can find it on sale.

Also theres always the Mountain Hardwear subzero jacket that can be commonly found on sale (or search e-bay, I've seen them as low as $75.00 new!)  My buddy took the parka version up shasta and loved it.

[auwesman]

http://cgi.ebay.com/Mount...%3A1%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50

$80.00!

[ednotmilkman]

wow, thanks for all the advice !  I'm to the point in hiking that I hope to be doing it for 20 more years, and enjoy the challenge of more extremes like cold and it will be well worth it to get "top of the line" here. I think the 800 fill stuff is better because of the smaller pack size more than just a few less ounces. I'll look things over again later. 

Next thought, after getting my clothing set for zero degree nights, what do you use for anti-freeze in your water in camp?  ;-)  other than camping by the stream so you can get it in the morning as needed.

[auwesman]

I just use plain antifreeze....cl eans out the insides    Just kidding

If it's going to be cold enough to freeze water in a nalgene a few things I do
1.  I've got a MH voodoo parka that has 2 water bottle pockets inside (fits nalgene bottles) so I may store them there if it gets too cold.
2.  Place water bottles inside the middle of your pack while backpacking.  I've never had water freeze that was insulated inside my pack.
3.  Sleep with water bottles in sleeping bag at night
4.  Heat it up with stove

Or I reccommend dexacool 

[Woody]

turn your water bottles upside down before bed. If they do not freeze through ice forms on the top of the water first so when you wake up you still have drinking water. You also might want to get bottle insulators.

[Pointman]

Great ideas on keeping your water from freezing and these will work fine in most of our southern conditions. In Alaska in winter I generally carried at least one water bottle in my parka and put my water in my sleeping bag at night. I made a mistake once and had most of my water freeze while walking at about zero. I never thought water would freeze that quickly while I was walking.

I guess as far as a jacket or sleeping bag, I generally stay away from down since it loses virually all of it's insulating abilty when wet. I have been out too many times when a rain storm soaked me for a while and then the temperture dropped below freezing as a front came through.  Just be careful to ensure your down stays dry.

[highlife]

Check out the primaloft jacket/pullovers at Backpackinglight .com

The only down jacket I would go with is the montbell.

[ednotmilkman]

the reason all these jackets mentioned above are on sale is - they are out of stock except for the odd sizes.
 
I just ordered an Eddie Bauer 800 fill jacket over the phone from the Birmingham store. It's not a tall one, but we'll see how it fits and worry about a 2nd choice later. The store has better sale than online, and shipping is less as well.  $119.68 total

[ednotmilkman]

Got the EB800 jacket this morning. It weighs 1# 0.2 oz and fits good in regular length. Have not tried packing it down yet.   If they have any left, they are selling them for $105 at the Eddie Bauer store at "The Summit" . Did not ask them about the Yukon Classsic 700 fill jacket that NGN mentioned was on sale online.